Apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) 7 W. O. MAVOR.

APPARATUS FOR ALINING AND STARTING HORSES 0N RAGE TRACKS.

Patented Apr. 13, 1897.

N a z: 1 S S Z? ,M U QM (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

\ W. O. MAVOR.

' APPARATUS FOR ALINING AND STARTING HORSES 0N RACE TRACKS.

No. 580.790. Patented Aprj 13, 1897.

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WARWICK C. MAVOR, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

APPARATUS FOR ALINING AND STARTING HORSES ON RACE-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,790, dated April 13, 1897.

' Application filed May 16,1896. Serial No. 591,862. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVARWIOK O. MAVOR, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Alining and Starting Horses Upon Race-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for ali'ning and starting horses upon race-tracks.

It is my purpose to provide a simple and efficient mechanism capable of being operated by any single person, whereby any number of horses entered for a race may be brought into line, so that each shall have a fair and equal chance and the whole number started together, the signal for the start being the mechanical removal of the aliningbarrier, thus securing entire uniformity of action at all times.

It is the further purpose of my invention to provide a mechanically-operated alining and start-ing mechanism of such construction and operation that it may be instantaneously removed, leaving a clear track for the horses, whereby the latter may, if necessary, be allowed to approach the alining-barrier much more closely than would otherwise be possible; I aim also to simplify, improve, and reduce the cost of structures of this class, to render the removal of the barrier certain and noiseless,and to so dispose of it when removed that it shall not be readily seen from the track and can have no effect, therefore, upon nervous or excitable horses approaching and passing under it.

The invention consists, to these ends, in the novel features of construction and in the parts and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claims which conclude this specification.

To enable others to clearly understand and to make and use my said invention, I will explain the same in detail, referring for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, showing the construction and operation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of one of the uprights, taken a little above the barrier when the latter is in its lowest position. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the inner face of one of the uprights, showing the buffers or cushions receiving the impact of the barrier-supports, together with the means for giving apart revolution to the barrier as it reaches its limit of upward movement.

The reference-numeral l in said drawings indicates a race-track having upon opposite sides foundations 2, of brick, stone, or any whereby a sufficient support and durability will be secured. Upon each foundation 2 rests a standard or tubular column 3, the two being so arranged that a line drawn from one to the other will lie directly across the track. These columns have a slight inclination-toward each other of about fifteen or twenty degrees from a vertical line passing through the foot, or approximately that, the exact degree of angularity being immaterial. Each column, thus inclined, rises to a point somewhat above that-to which the barrier must rise in order to permit horses to pass beneath it, and the upper ends of said columns have vertical tapered terminals 4. Into the open ends of these tapered portions are inserted the open ends of tubes 5, which rise vertically to a suitable height, their upper ends being closed by caps 6, having lugs 7, a pair of the latter rising from the upper face of each cap.

Each tubular column 3 is provided, upon the side adjacent to the track 1, with a broad slot or channel 8, extending longitudinally from a point above the foot to a point below the vertical terminal 4. On the outer face of the column an angle-plate 9 is placed on each side of this channel and secured by screws 10, passing into the column. The adjacent faces of the outwardly-turned parts of these angleplates are flush with the edges of the channels 8 and converge thence to their edges, the intermediate space having the formvin crosssection of a truncated wedge. In the diametrically opposite part of the column a slot 12 is formed, having a length substantially equal to that of the channel 8. Within each column is arranged a sliding bracket 13', having a tapered edge 14, which lies in the space between the converging edges of the angleplates 9. Upon the opposite and parallel edge other suitable material and construction,

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of the bracket 13 is a central rib 15, which lies in the slot 12 and has its outer edge projecting slightly beyond the exterior surface of the column.

About midway of thetop and bottom of the bracket 13 is a horizontal opening 16, extending from the edge lying between the angleplates into a recess 17, which lies nearly in the center of the tubular column. A spindle 18 is arranged in this opening, and the end projectin g into the recess 17 receives a nut 19 or other device, which prevents the withdrawal of the spindle. Upon the other end of the latter is a cross-head 20, which is preferably in the form of an open loop.

Between the two columns is stretched a barrier 21, composed of webbing, wire net, or any other suitable fabric or material. The ends of this barrier are connected in any suitable manner to the cross-heads 20-as,for example, by wires or small rods 22and atone or both ends springs 23 or other elastic devices are inserted between the cross-head and the end of the barrier, so that the latter is always under tension.

To each bracket 13 is attached one end of a wire, cord, or rod 24, which extends upward within the tubular column 3 and isconnected at its other end to the lower end of a spring 25, lying in the pipe or tube 5, the upper end of said spring being securely connected to the cap 6, which closes the top of the tube. The construction is such that when the barrier is at its lowest point, as in Fig. 1, the springs 25 are placed under tension, their prolongation being such as to enable them to raise the brackets and barrier as far as the length of the slots 8 and 12 in the tubular columns 3 will permit.

When drawn down, which is accomplished by small ropes or cords 26, connected to the crossheads 20, the barrier is held by detentlevers 27 and 28, fulcrumed upon lugs 29, projecting from the columns on opposite sides of the channels or slots 12. The ends of said levers are turned or bent toward the columns on which they are mounted and engage with teeth 30, formed in the projecting edges of the ribs 15, the engagement being effected and maintained by springs 31, acting upon said levers.

To the lever 27, between its free end and fulcrum, is connected a wire or light rod 32, which extends upward and is connected to the end of the horizontal arm of a bell-crank lever 33, pivotally mounted between the lugs 7 on the cap 6. The vertical arm of said bell-crank is connected by a rod or wire 34: to the similarly-arranged arm of a bell-crank lever 35, pivoted on the cap 6 on the opposite side of the track. The end of the horizontal arm of the latter bell-crank is in like manner connected to the end of an arm 36 on the lever 28, which extends outward at right from the teeth 30 and by the same movement will operate the lever 28 through the bellcranks 33 and 25 and simultaneously release it from a similar engagement. This leaves both brackets 13 free to rise together, and as the structure is extremely light this action will be very rapid, the springs 25 snapping the barrier upward almost instantaneously. Buffers 0r cushions 37, placed at the upper ends of the channels in which the brackets move, prevent noise, as well as the jar and rapid wear that might otherwise be produced.

As the brackets reach their upward limit of movement fingers 38, projecting from the spindles 18, engage lugs 39, projecting from the columns, and turn the spindles one-fourth of a revolution, thereby bringing the barrier with its fiat surface substantially parallel with the surface of the race-track. As the gate turns into this position a spring 40 at one end is placed under tension, one end of said spring'being attached to an eye or lug on the spindle 18 and the other end to the slide-bracket 13 below the spindle. When the gate moves downward, the pull of the spring restores it to its vertical position and retains it therein. When turned flatwise with the track when raised, the barrier is not only not conspicuous, but is not easily seen by horses approaching it, and they can therefore pass beneath without danger that nervous or easily-frightened horses will be alarmed.

What I claim is? 1. An apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks, consisting of a springstretched, flexible barrier having its ends connected to spring-raised brackets, movable in slotted columns, and levers adapted to engage teeth on said brackets and connected together through bell-cranks pivoted 011 opposite sides of the track, substantially as de scribed.

2. In an apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks, the combination with a spring-stretchedflexible barrier, of brackets sliding on columns on opposite sides of the track, springs connected to said brackets to raise them, levers fulcrumed on the columns and having detent ends to engage toothed ribs on said brackets, and means for connecting said levers whereby movement imparted to one shall be communicated to the other, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks, the combination with a spring-stretched, flexible barrier of brackets sliding in tubular columns on opposite sides of the track, sprin gs arranged in vertical tubes forming extensions of said columns said springs being connected to said brackets, spring-pressed levers having their ends engaged with toothed ribs 011 the brackets and means for connecting said levers to give them simultaneous releasing movement, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks, the combination with a spring-stretched, flexible barrier of brackets barrier being connected to cross-headscarried by spindles lying in and capable of turning axially in said brackets, and means for raising said brackets automatically, the columns being provided with lugs at the upper and lower limits of movement to engage fingers on said spindles and turn the barrier fiatwise with the track when raised and into a vertical plane'when drawn down, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for alining and starting horses on race-tracks, the combination with inclined, converging, tubular columns, having vertical tubes extending from their upper, vertical terminals, of brackets having ribs projecting through channels in the outer faces of the columns and tapered inner edges lying between the conve'rgin g edges of angle-plates on the inner faces of the columns, a flexible barrier connected to the cross-heads of spindles carried by said brackets, springs stretching said barrier, springs arranged in the vertical tubes and connected to the brackets, levers fulcrumed on the columns and engaging ribs of the brackets, and connections between said levers and connected bell-cranks on the tubes, bu ifers' being provided to take up the impact of the spring-raised brackets, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for alining and starting horses on racetracks, the combination with a flexible, spring-stretched barrier, consisting of webbing or fabric, of spring-raised brackets having horizontal revoluble spindles connected to the ends of the barrier, means for releasing both brackets simultaneously, and lugs on the bracket-supports at the upper and lower limits of movement, to engage fingers on said spindles and turn the barrier into a horizontal plane, when raised and into a vertical plane when lowered, substantially as described. V

7. In a starting-gate, the combination with a flexible barrier, of columns on opposite sides of the track, bracket-s sliding thereon, detents fulcrumed on the columns, adapted to engage projections on said brackets, and means for simultaneously releasing said detents.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VVARW IOK G. MAVOR.

' Witnesses:

JNo. S. MCDONALD, A. RICHARD. 

